It’s funny… I was the exact opposite when I was a child. You see, I would infamously only eat plain hamburgers. We’re talking plain. Not an ounce of cheese, ketchup, mayonnaise… nothing. Just a dry hamburger patty and an untoasted bun.

Oh, how things have changed. Now, I eat my way through every new city I visit. (Trust me, it’s better this way.)

Today I’m talking about the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and all of the best dishes I ate during my visit. Don’t leave Oahu without trying these 9 delicious dishes…

The best kinds of trips are spontaneous ones. The kind where you pack your bags and head out on a whim, without any expectation of what to do when you arrive.

On a Thursday night in November, that’s exactly what Matt and I decided to do.

Relaxing on the couch with Matt by my side, I felt the blues kick in. You see, whenever routine settles in, I tend to feel a little out of it. There could be nothing “wrong” in the moment, but I’ll feel a little sad anyway just because there hasn’t been enough novelty or excitement in the day-to-day lately. He knows me well, so all it took was him saying, “I think we should take a weekend trip” for me to perk up.

Within minutes, we were booking a one-night stay at a hotel in downtown San Diego. By Saturday morning, we were packing a small bag into the car, ready to make the drive from Los Angeles. When we arrived, we had no idea what to do! (I guess this is the one downside of spontaneous trips.)

Luckily, the hotel employee who checked us in had a recommendation ready: Seaport Village. Within short walking distance of our hotel in San Diego, it’s a perfect stop for a long afternoon walk. Continuing the spirit of spontaneity, we immediately took the recommendation. Here are my favorite photos from our walking tour of Seaport Village…

If you think that Los Angeles is the city of cars then… well, you are correct. Thankfully, it’s not the only method of getting around. If you like walking really long distances, you can strap on your sneakers and pound the pavement.

Want to annoy everyone around you? Hop on a scooter, and ride it on the sidewalk! Or if you want to feel the pumping adrenaline rush of almost getting run over by inconsiderate drivers, bicycling might be for you.

For everyone else? The LA Metro is there for you.

After having spent large amounts of time on the LA Metro, I’ve concluded that you run into the same kind of characters over & over again. Daily commuters will recognize these 10 People You’ll See on the LA Metro…

When in Oahu, live with aloha as the locals do…

Although Oahu isn’t Hawaii’s largest island, it is the most visited – and for good reason. In Honolulu alone, there are a multitude of attractions to explore: Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and beaches with incredible views, just to name a few.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to have an entire week in Oahu. With a week’s amount of time on my hands, I wanted to dedicate an entire day to exploring another side of the island: The North Shore.

An easy drive from the Honolulu area, the North Shore of Oahu has a couple of the island’s most famous eateries, iconic beaches, and even a particularly fruity tourist attraction. Keep reading to explore my one-day itinerary of Oahu’s North Shore.

This might surprise you, but I’m not a fan of hikes. Generally speaking, I love the outdoors, but the outdoors does not love me back.

You see, I’m pale (see the side-bar for proof), and I need SPF 10,000 to have a moderate chance at warding off sunburns. Even when I take precautionary measures, my face starts to look somewhere in-between “purple heirloom tomato” and “boiled lobster” after five minutes in the sun.

… I’ll let that visual soak in. Lemme tell ya, it’s very attractive.

To top it all off, I’m not in shape. At all. The amount of huffing and complaining I do during an easy jog is downright embarrassing.

What am I a fan of, you might ask? Beautiful views. And unfortunately, to get a glimpse of those beautiful views, you have to embark on a hike every now and then.

As someone who’s a cross between a lazy sloth and an adventurer, I’ve made it my life’s mission to find the easiest hikes in Los Angeles with the biggest pay-offs. Whenever I’m in need of Pacific Ocean views, this easy hike is my go-to…

Oh, La Jolla, you’re such a treat. Even in the middle of winter, you’re not too cold and not too hot, with a gentle ocean breeze made for leisurely walks along the coves. It’s no wonder La Jolla is such a popular tourist destination.

Anyone who has been to New Orleans will know that while visiting, you eat until your stomach hurts. Then, you have a drink (might I suggest a Hurricane?) and then you eat some more.

Why is New Orleans called the crescent city, anyway? I don’t see what this has to do with pre-packaged ready to bake dinner rolls. (I’m kidding. And I’m really sorry for the corny joke.) In any case, I’d like to make a proposal for it to be re-dubbed the city of food.

Fearful of feeling like a beached whale? Too bad. It’s gonna happen, and you’re going to love every minute of it. Despite that growing feeling of fullness in your stomach, you won’t be able to resist having “just one more bite.”

Having grown up in New Orleans, I’m very familiar with this feeling. Spoonful after spoonful, I just keep eating until my plate is clean. I moved out over a decade ago, but whenever I go back, I rarely leave a plate unfinished.

If you’re uninitiated to the classic dishes of New Orleans, or just wondering what to eat on your visit, you’re in for a treat. I’ve compiled this list of my top five things to eat in New Orleans, along with some food photography for good measure. Please try not to lick your screen. (It’s unsanitary.)